RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has waded into the dispute over lighting the Karthigai Deepam lamp at Thiruparankundram in Tamil Nadu, saying that it can be resolved within the state itself on the basis of what he described as “strength” and “awakening” of Hindus.
Responding to a question at a Sangh event in Tiruchirappalli on Wednesday on whether the organisation should escalate the issue nationally, Bhagwat said the matter (currently sub judice) would be taken up further only if required.
“At present, I think the issue can be resolved here on the basis of the Hindus’ strength in Tamil Nadu. We will not need to escalate it,” he said. “The matter is now sub judice. Let it resolve. The awakening of Hindus in Tamil Nadu, I think, is enough to bring about the desired result. If at all it is needed, Hindu organisations working in Tamil Nadu will let us know, then we will think about it,” he was quoted as saying.
Stating that the “issue needs to be resolved favourably for Hindus,” he added: “That is definite, and we will do whatever it takes.”
Erupting ahead of the Tamil Nadu elections scheduled next year, the controversy centres around lighting the traditional Deepam lamp at the Deepathoon—a stone pillar on the Thiruparankundram hill near a dargah in Madurai.
The DMK government in the state has approached the Supreme Court challenging a Madras High Court order that permitted Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy temple devotees to light the lamp.
Led by the ruling DMK, opposition MPs have also submitted a notice in the Lok Sabha seeking to move a motion for the removal of Justice G R Swaminathan, who passed the direction — a move sharply condemned by the BJP, calling it an attempt to “intimidate” the judiciary.
According to state BJP chief Nainar Nagenthran, the order upheld Tamil cultural rights, while party colleague Narayanan Thirupathy accused the DMK and its allies of “minority appeasement and orchestrating” the controversy.
Nagenthran also described as “shameful” the impeachment motion against Justice Swaminathan, “The move by MPs of the INDIA bloc was aimed at intimidating the judiciary. The DMK-Congress alliance would be defeated by the people,” the BJP leader said.
Thirupathy claimed the DMK and its allies had “resorted to intimidation and threats” instead of implementing the court’s orders, and accused it of pursuing “anti-Sanatan agenda”. With the BJP-led NDA having a majority in the Lok Sabha, the opposition move is largely seen as symbolic political signaling ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.